Hi @Get_DOVAH_it! Thanks so much for your words and your curiosity.
I’m quite impressed by your analysis because you perfectly nailed the meaning of the short movie even if it is simbolic and surreal.
I’m particularly happy to answer your questions!
There is a small, dancing fire in what I would call a dirt hearth with a circlet of metal containing it. I couldn’t quite tell if this was a part of a crown or a purposeful medieval part that I have no periodic knowledge of, but if it is part of a crown, then I say this is brilliant foreshadowing!
Yes, that is a sort of crown made up of small bronze statues found in a place in Gualdum called Colle dei Mori. They’re really important because they are from pre-roman era. I decided to put them in my story because the legend says they’re bringing bad luck: a believable tool for a witch, no?
Is the Umbrian legend of real events or an urban legend? Is HIMIL a precursor to the Sleeping Beauty tale or inspired by a dark version of it? Was Imiltrude later referred to as Maleficent (to make or do evil) due to the fire she was accused of starting?
The story of Imiltrude is inspired by a novel called Poi si fece buio by umbrian writer Matteo Bebi. We took inspiration from the book and from a '300 chronicle called Chronicon Gualdense: it talks about various events and also about this woman called Maleficent accused to be a witch and able to burn the entire village. It’s a really important event in our history and in way, it’s well before the Sleeping Beaty story.
Consider every year, at the end of Setpember, the city is celebrating with a big event, called Giochi de le Porte: you can find a glimpse (directed by me) right here if you are curious enough.
Is Gualdum a real or fictional village?
Gualdum is a real place, called Gualdo Tadino. Like most of the cities and towns in Italy, it has a huge historical heritage. From paleolitic to '900. Ah, it’s also the place where I come from 
Is HIMIL the introduction of more to come?
Yes, we would like to produce a Pilot for a TV series and we’re looking for the right people to make it real. Our research work began something like two years ago looking for direct and indirect sources. In the meanwhile we wrote a script but we decided to produce this short movie trying to communicate which kind of mood we’re interested in.
We’re writing a whole new world made up of legends and historical chronicles. Our land is full of real events ready to be narrated in the right way. Consider the character of San Francis (from Assisi) visited Gualdum at least three times during the “HIMIL” time.
Thanks so much, again, for your interest. It brings enthusiasm and is vital for our project.
You can follow us on Instagram, mainly.
Please let me know if you have more questions about it!
Big up,
Tiziano
It is tense from the beginning to the end, bravo!
